Cambria County Death Records
Cambria County was created on March 26, 1804 from Bedford, Huntingdon, and Somerset Counties. Its name comes from the nation of Wales, reflecting the Welsh heritage of many early settlers. The Register of Wills in Ebensburg holds birth and death records from 1893 through 1906 along with probate records going back to 1805. Marriage records begin in 1885. Naturalization records from 1835 through 1906 are held by the Prothonotary. For deaths from 1906 forward, the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records handles requests. The PA State Archives death index covers all Cambria County deaths from 1906 through 1975.
Cambria County Quick Facts
Cambria County Register of Wills Death Records
The Register of Wills is in the Cambria County Courthouse at 200 S Center Street, Ebensburg, PA 15931. This office holds birth and death records from 1893 through 1906 and marriage records beginning in 1885. Probate records go back to 1805. Photocopies of marriage records cost $1.00, and certified copies cost $5.00.
The Prothonotary office holds naturalization records from 1835 through 1906 and divorce records from 1866 onward. Land records begin in 1804, when Cambria County was formed. Court records date from 1849. Together, these offices give researchers broad access to death-related documents across most of Cambria County's history. The probate records from 1805 serve as the primary death source for the 1804 through 1892 period, before formal county death registration began.
The Archives.com guide to Cambria County vital records summarizes what types of records exist and where each is held. Cambria County was carved from three parent counties, meaning researchers tracing Cambria County families from before 1804 must check Bedford, Huntingdon, and Somerset county records depending on which township the ancestor lived in.
Pennsylvania Death Index for Cambria County
The PA State Archives hosts the free statewide Death Index online for 1906 through 1975. Cambria County deaths during that range are fully indexed. Search at the PA State Archives vital statistics page. The index gives the name, year, and certificate number needed to request the full certificate from the Division of Vital Records.
Death certificates from 1906 through 1974 are at the State Archives. Digital copies for 1906 through 1972 are on Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania residents can use Ancestry at no cost at most public libraries in the state. Soundex indexing covers 1920 through 1924 and 1930 through 1951. This is useful for Cambria County, which has a large number of immigrant families from Wales, Ireland, and Eastern Europe whose surnames may appear in variant spellings. Death certificates become public record 50 years after the death date.
Certified copies cost $20 each. Order online at mycertificates.health.pa.gov through VitalChek, by phone at 724-656-3100 or 844-228-3516, or by mail to PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. The Harrisburg or Pittsburgh walk-in offices serve Cambria County residents depending on which direction they prefer to travel. The PA Department of Health vital records page has current ordering instructions.
Cambria County Early Death Records and Parent Counties
Cambria County was formed in 1804 from Bedford, Huntingdon, and Somerset Counties. For deaths before 1804 in the Cambria County area, researchers must consult those three parent county archives. The portion of present-day Cambria County that was in Bedford County has records in Bedford's courthouse. The portion from Huntingdon County is in Huntingdon's records. The part from Somerset County is in Somerset's records.
Within Cambria County itself, the probate archive from 1805 offers the first organized death-related documentation. When a Cambria County resident died and left property, the estate came before the Orphans' Court and a will was probated or letters of administration were granted. These filings typically occur within weeks of death and provide the name of the deceased, the date of death or the date administration was granted, the names of heirs, and the approximate value of the estate. The probate index allows name-based searches across the entire period from 1805 forward.
Cambria County has a rich industrial heritage centered on coal mining and steel production, particularly in the Johnstown area. Many immigrants arrived in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and death records from this period reflect the hazards of industrial work. Naturalization records from 1835 through 1906 at the Prothonotary can help researchers identify where immigrant ancestors came from, which in turn points toward records in their countries of origin. Church records from immigrant communities, including Welsh, Irish, Polish, and Slovak congregations, often captured death information in the community's native language.
Note: The 1889 Johnstown Flood produced a large number of Cambria County deaths that may be researched through the Johnstown Flood National Memorial records and local historical society collections.
What Cambria County Death Records Include
A Cambria County death certificate from the state registration era gives the full name, date and place of death, age, birthplace, occupation, cause of death, the attending physician's name, and the names of surviving family members. Many certificates also identify parents' birthplaces, which is valuable for tracing immigrant origins. The informant is usually a close relative, and identifying that person can reveal family connections not previously known.
Death certificates become public record 50 years after the death date. All Cambria County deaths from 1975 and earlier are open to the public. For more recent deaths, eligible requestors include close family members and legal representatives. Certified copies cost $20 each. Order online at mycertificates.health.pa.gov through VitalChek, by phone at 724-656-3100 or 844-228-3516, or by mail to PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. Soundex phonetic indexing covers the 1920 through 1924 and 1930 through 1951 periods, which helps with Cambria County's many immigrant surnames from Wales, Ireland, Poland, and Slovakia. Digital copies from 1906 through 1972 are on Ancestry.com at no cost to Pennsylvania residents at most public libraries. The PA Department of Health vital records page has current eligibility and ordering details. Naturalization records from 1835 through 1906 at the Prothonotary can help confirm birthplace and country of origin for foreign-born Cambria County residents, adding context to death records that list only a general birthplace. These naturalization files often reveal the specific village or region an immigrant came from, which opens up research in overseas records.
Nearby Counties
Cambria County was formed from three parent counties and is surrounded by several central Pennsylvania counties. Check parent county records for deaths before 1804.